Jewish Democrats wrongly listed as backers of pro-Palestinian bill
A pair of Jewish House Democrats said Wednesday they were incorrectly listed as co-sponsors of a pro-Palestinian resolution.
Why it matters: One of the lawmakers, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), said he plans to investigate the discrepancy and try to "prevent this from happening to anyone else."
- The mixup comes as the bloody Israel-Hamas war has deeply divided Democrats in Congress.
The details: The non-binding resolution, H.Res.902, "affirms Palestine's right to exist and at a future time to become a nation State."
- It's a counterbalance to a raft of pro-Israel measures that were passed in the aftermath of Oct. 7 attack.
- Five other co-sponsors are listed on Congress' website: progressive Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas).
What they're saying: "I hereby remove my name as co-sponsor as H.Res.902," said Raskin, a Jewish progressive, in a brief speech on the House floor.
- "My name was added to this as a co-sponsor without my knowledge, without my consent. I knew nothing about it," he said.
- Raskin said he will "work with the [House] clerk's office and the majority and the minority leader to just figure out how this is happening. Apparently it has happened to some other people."
Reality check: Raskin is a vocal supporter of a two-state solution and has criticized Israel's government for Palestinian civilian deaths in recent months.
Zoom in: Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), who is also Jewish but more moderate and staunchly pro-Israel, is listed on the congressional website as having withdrawn her name as a co-sponsor.
- Manning "was added and didn't ask to be added," a spokesperson for the North Carolinian told Axios.